Veteran footballer Mpumi Nyandeni not ready to call it quits

Approaching her 37th birthday in August, Nyandeni recently divulged her keys to longevity in football during an interview with SABC Sport.

As a midfield powerhouse for TS Galaxy Queens, she boasts an impressive 149 international caps for Banyana Banyana – a testament to her enduring impact on the sport.

"I am a firm believer that discipline, hard work, and passion are the best form of ingredients for a player to last as long as I have in the game," said Nyendeni.

"For me, personally, no one has the audacity to come and tell me when I should retire because that person was not there when I started playing football. 

"I will retire when my body is no longer able to carry me. I will retire on my own accord. For now, I am still keeping faith and playing hard like a youngster. 

"You won’t be able to tell the difference between me and a young player because I am fast and show more hunger on the field of play. You’d think that these kids are older than me, but I put more effort into my football daily."

Nyandeni once showcased her talents abroad with WFC Rossiyanka in Russia before making a return to compete in the Hollywoodbets Super League. 

Her international career saw her don the Banyana jersey at the 2012 Olympic Games in London and again at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.  

Expressing her future plans, she shared her intention to retire from international football following her milestone 150th caps, which she aims to achieve during an upcoming friendly match later this year.

"I’m calling it quits on international football once I secure that special cap. From then on, my attention will be solely on club football until I reach my limit," she confirmed.

"Football is my world – without it, there’s little else for me. My passion for the game is boundless, and I aim to keep playing for as long as I can. That’s how deep my love for football runs."

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